Tag Archive for 'Samak-Sundaravej'

Ex Thai PM linked to corruption with Burma junta Times 15 Sep 08

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From Times OnlineSeptember 16, 2008

Andrew Drummond in Bangkok

Thailand’s Supreme Court has issued another arrest warrant for Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted premier, this time for cashing in on Burma’s military junta while offering himself as a mediator with the repressive regime.

While Mr Thaksin, until recently owner of Manchester City F.C., offered Thailand as host country for talks with Burma, he was secretly cashing in on his relationship and offering his own government’s money to clinch the deal, it is alleged.

This is the second warrant issued for the arrest of Mr Thaksin for corruption as the exiled Prime Minister continues his political career from his home in Weybridge, Surrey.

He is accused of instructing Thailand’s Import-Export Bank to offer the Burmese junta a soft loan for the equivalent of £65 million to enable the government to buy products from his communications company Shin Satellite, which was then totally owned by his family.
He also allegedly told the junta he could reduce the interest rate without consulting his Cabinet.

Mr Thaksin, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006, fled Thailand with his wife Pojama to evade a charge of corruption over a deal in which she was able to buy a 16 acre site in central Bangkok at a third of its price from a Thai government department.

Thailand is currently in a state of political deadlock. Mr Thaksin’s successor Samak Sundaravej was forced last week to step down for hosting a television cookery programme while in office. He also faces charges of corruption and libel, and the first court date has been set for later this month.

Yesterday the majority Peoples Power Party (PPP) nominated Somchai Wongsawat, Mr Thaksin’s brother-in-law, to lead the country - a move which has further angered protesters from the People’s Alliance for Democracy, who seized Government House in Bangkok three weeks ago and who plan to step up their protest.

A spokesman for the PPP, which is widely seen as Mr Thaksin’s nominated government while he is in exile, confirmed that he had been in touch by phone to make his personal recommendation as to who should be P.M.

 

Thaksin Shinawatra’s brother-in-law voted in as PM candidate- The Times 15-08-08

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Link to Australian story

Andrew Drummond in Bangkok

 
Thailand’s government party the People’s Power Party (PPP) today nominated a brother-in-law of exiled Premier Thaksin Shinawatra as the country’s Prime Minister, a move which could send the country spiralling into further chaos.

The PPP’s choice of Somchai Wongsawat is certain to antagonise the protesters who have occupied Government House for three weeks, accusing the government of being a puppet of the ousted premier.

Mr Somchai has been acting prime minister since last week, when Premier Samak Sundaravej was forced to step down by the Constitution Court, for breaking parliamentary rules by hosting a cookery programme on commercial television while P.M.

The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), whose protests have disrupted travel across the country, describing Mr Somchai, a former Minister of Education, as “Thaksin Number Three” vowed to continue in its bid to unseat the PPP.

Sathien Viriyapanpongsa, co-ordinator for the protesters in the People’s Alliance for Democracy said: “In 2006, we fought only to free the country from the grip of Thaksin [Shinawatra] without laying out long-term measures. Eventually, we got Thaksin episode 2 in the form of a proxy government led by Samak Sundaravej.

“Now we are being presented with Thaskin Episode 3. Our protests will continue. We cannot stop now. We can win.”

“We all know who Somchai is. Samak was just a nominee but Somchai is the real actor linked to Thaksin’s family,” PAD leader Somsak Kosaisuk told reporters. “We will not give him the benefit of the doubt or give him a honeymoon period.”

Mr Somchai’s ties to Mr Thaksin - his wife is Mr Thaksin’s younger sister - led to frequent cries of nepotism during his time as the top civil servant at the Justice Ministry. He denies the accusation, noting he got the job before Mr Thaksin came to power.

Somsak Kosaisook had already publicly stated that none of the PPP cabinet would be suitable as a Prime Minister.

The Thai Army is closely monitoring the situation and the end of the State of Emergency which was declared yesterday – even though the government are now planning to meet, not in government house, but at Bangkok’s old international airport at Don Muang.

But senior generals have repeatedly been quoted as saying they would not initiate a military coup.

Mr Samak had hoped to be voted back to power but last week Parliament could not find a quorum to vote him back in.

Mr Somchai is a barrister by profession and a former Chief Justice of Phang-Nga province in South Thailand. He also served in the Ministries of Labour and Justice.

The other possible contenders, Finance Minister Somporn Amornvivat and PPP Secretary Genereal Surapong Suebwonglee were also staunch allies of Mr Thaksin, who fled to London with his wife Pojaman, while on corruption charges. But they were not related to him by blood.

MR Somchai still has to be confirmed by Parliamentary vote on Wednesday, and with a large faction of the PPP now split, his appointment is by no means a forgone conclusion.

 

 

 

Thailand in political deadlock over new Prime Minister - The Times 12 08 08

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Andrew Drummond in Bangkok
 
Thailand was in a political deadlock today after the country’s parliament could not find a quorum to vote in a new Prime Minister.

Deposed Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who was forced to resign for breaking conflict of interest laws by going on a television show called Cooking and Grumbling, had hoped coalition government members, who have a massive parliamentary majority, would vote him back into power.

But most of the MPs boycotted the session, in what was seen as a time-buying move, while several different parties were in negotiation over the country’s leadership. The vote has now been delayed until next Wednesday.

Meanwhile thousands of supporters of Mr Sundaravej have arrived in Bangkok from the provinces, and exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is reported to have conveyed by phone his choice as new Prime Minister of Thailand.
 
The ‘Democracy against Dictatorship’ supporters have been bussed into the capital to counter demonstrations by the People’s Alliance for Democracy supporters who have taken over Government House, and last week paralysed airports in the country’s tourist hotspots.

PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang cancelled a planned protest by Young PAD, saying: “We do not want violence”.

The political turmoil has caused international tourist arrivals in Bangkok to drop by 70 per cent according to Charoen Wang-ananont, President of the Thai Tourist Services Association.

Holiday bookings to Thailand were being cancelled “right across the board” from Asia to Europe and already hotel occupancy was down 40 per cent for the time of the year, he said, calling for the state of emergency to be lifted.

Some 800,000 Britons travel to Thailand each year.

 

Thai ‘State of Emergency’ lull as government waits budget day- Daily Mail Sept 3 08

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State of Emergency Bangkok - lull as government hangs on for budget day

Daily Mail Edit
From Andrew Drummond,
Bangkok  September  2

4pm BST

Thousands  of tourists , hundreds of them British, continued their slow evacuation from the Thai capital Bangkok tonight as a ‘State of Emergency’ declared by the government provided a lull in violence.
The  state enterprise unions, who have joined the anti-government protest, allowed flights to continue uninterrupted from Bangkok and the country’s southern resorts of Phuket and Krabi while the stand-off in the city becomes more tense.
And the Thai Airways Union said they wished to help tourists to leave the country unaffected.
Protesters from the People’s Alliance for Democracy, numbering an estimated 70,000 in Bangkok, who want Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his Cabinet to step down immediately, were expected to be joined by thousands from the provinces.
The PAD has held Government House for a week, temporarily closed down the tourist airports, and shut down the country’s rail network, claiming that they believe Samak and his People’s Power Party Cabinet, were enriching themselves at the country’s expense – a charge they had previously laid against former Premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
That spells further trouble tomorrow (Wed) a crucial one in the besieged government’s calendar.
It’s Budget Day. 
The main agenda of the Parliament is how the PPP wth its majority is going to allocate government funds and the Prime Minister has refused to postpone the event.
Today, not only did the demonstrators asked him to resign, but the Election Commission which investigated how the PPP got into power also said Samak and his party should step down, because its members had concurred that the PPP were guilty of buying votes when elected.
But that has to be decided by the Constitution Court.
Samak’s resignation was also called for by Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Eton and Oxford educated leader of the Democratic Party, who said he was deeply suspicious that yesterday morning’s violence in which one person was killed and forty more injured was orchestrated…
Abhisit was careful not to directly point a particular person or party but said he was convinced the ‘violence was manipulated by important and influential figures.”
Co-incidentally amongst those treated for injuries in the violent eruption outside Government House was a government MP.
Udon Thani  MP Surathin Phimarnmekhin,  was treated at Bangkok’s Hua Chiew hospital with two stitches for the head injury he suffered during the clash between the pro and anti-government protesters.

But his secretary, Thirapol Suriyo,  insisted,  apparently with a deadpan expression , that Thirapol was not leading pro-government people into the clash.  He was ‘holding surgery for his constituents’ who had come to Bangkok.
Thailand’s Outlook Television Channel, strongly critical of the government, also broadcast footage of two former M.P.s from Thaksin Shinawatra’s Thai Rak Thai Party at this mornings demo.

PAD supporters insist that their opponents,  from the from a group calling themselves the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship,  have been bussed in from the provinces and paid just under £10 a day to counter-demonstrate on behalf of the government and Thaksin Shinawatra.

So far tonight there remains a state of impass. The Army has been called upon to enforce the terms of the ‘State of Emergency’ but as it was the army who ousted Thaksin Shinawatra in a military coup just how far they will go remains to be seen.
So far they have refused to move the protesters, among which of course, are more than a few army wives.
Meanwhile workers in all the state unions, which cover mainly utilities and transportation, have come out in sympathy with the protesters.
They plan to use the national grid to black out and deprive water from the homes of politicians and police leaders responsible for police violence, they claim was used at an attack on the protesters at Government House.
The leader of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, is led by a man called Shinawatra Pabunchart who said:  “More of our supporters are coming. We will take back government house.”
Meanwhile a Thai style ‘State of Emergency’ continued to operate.  And that means that it was business as usual in the bars and clubs of Bangkok and the rule banning more than five people gathering was as usual ignored.
The Foreign Office updated its travel advisory to say major demonstrations were continuing in Bangkok but merely advised British tourists to be cautious in those areas.

 

Story One

5 am:BST

State of Emergency -  Graft authority says Thai government bribed for votes

From Andrew Drummond,
Bangkok September 2
An uneasy truce hung over Bangkok today after State of Emergency was declared at the end of a night of violence in the Thai capital.
Children were sent scurrying home from schools, workers went on strike, tourists, thousands of them British, struggled to get out of the country, and anti-government protesters dug themselves deeper into Government House.
Clashes began around 1.30 am and went on until 5am after hundreds of supporters of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and ousted Premier Thaksin Shinawatra made their first attack on protesters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy.
One person was killed some 40 taken to local hospitals. There were reports of gunshot wounds.
Then in a bombshell early today Thailand’s Election Commission which has been investigating how Samak Sundaravej came to power made the announcement that this years elections were rigged and the P.M. and his whole party should step down.
The Election Commission is taking Samak’s People’s Power Party to the Constitution Court claiming the party’s deputy leader bought votes.
Now the city is bracing itself for another night of violence. But from which direction they are not sure.
Crucial to any forthcoming battles is what role the Thai Army and Police will play now that a State of Emergency has been declared by Samak Sundaravej.
PAD supporters have been protesting for over a week demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej , elected as the nominee of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former PM who was indicted for corruption and is now in exile in Britain, and selling off his shares in Manchester City F.C.
They claim that Samak, and his cohorts, will enrich themselves and bleed the country in the process. They want an end to western style democracy, because, they say, politicians are able to buy themselves into power.
They have successfully shut down most of the country’s railway system and for two days airports at the tourist hot spots of Phuket, and Krabi, in south Thailand.
Meanwhile police failed to get the protesters out of their occupation of Government House and the Army declined to intervene.
In the last few days Thailand’s police chief has been replaced and so has the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
The Army is expected to be called upon to enforce the terms of the ‘State of Emergency’ but as it was the army who ousted Thaksin Shinawatra in a military coup just how far they will go remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, after this morning’s violence, workers in all the state unions, which cover mainly utilities and transportation, came out on strike in sympathy with the protesters one day early.
They plan to use the national grid to black out and deprive water from the homes of politicians and police leaders responsible for police violence, they claim was used at an attack on the protesters at Government House.
Last night’s violence was prompted after supporters of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, a pro-Samak, pro-Thaksin group, led by a man called Shinawatra Pabunchart moved on protesters at Government House.
He said today: “More of our supporters are coming. We will take back government house.”
Just how orchestrated it was still remains unclear. But Democrats say Premier Samak predicted the violence two days ago and it gave the Prime Minister an excuse to bring in the army.
Meanwhile thousands of British tourists are still struggling to get home from holiday destinations in the south.  The Thai Airways Union which is coming out in sympathy however said they would do their best to help foreigners caught up in the troubles.
The People’s Alliance for Democracy remains defiant, one of its leaders Chamlong Srimuang said: “We are staying until Samak and his party goes. There are not enough jails for us.”

Thousands of UK tourists trapped - Observer August 31 08

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Link to Observer article

Thousands of Britons were trapped in Thailand last night as mobs protesting against the country’s ‘corrupt’ government laid siege to airports in tourist hot spots. Some 15,000 people were turned away from the airport on the holiday island of Phuket after protesters from the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) stormed the runway and terminals.

Stranded passengers had to carry their bags through cordons to a nearby road where they were forced to hail cabs to take them back to their resorts. The chaos has sparked concerns that thousands of children will now miss the start of the British school term.

The airports at Krabi, now rivalling Phuket as Thailand’s No 1 tourist spot, was also closed, as was the airport at Haad Yai in the south. Last night demonstrators were also heading for Surat Thani airport, around three hours north of Phuket. ‘We want to bring government corruption to the attention of the world,’ said a PAD spokesman.

Having spent their holiday cash, many tourists were wondering how they would get home and find accommodation in the interim. The Tourist Authority of Thailand has asked hoteliers to give stranded tourists discounted or free accommodation, but almost all those from Britain have lost connections on to London which they booked months in advance. Last night many tried to make their connections by bus, minibus and taxi in a 13- hour road trip to Bangkok, but PAD said they were also setting up road blocks on major roads into the capital.

They insisted however that they were not targeting tourists and the protests have remained largely peaceful, though further chaos is predicted. Thailand’s railway system is already 70 per cent out of action due to action by unions in support of the PAD demonstrations. Unions at the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, have threatened action against the national grid and the Thai Airlines union is threatening to join the protests.

The PAD began their massive demonstrations four days ago demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet. The group argues that corrupt politicians have been able to buy themselves into power.

PAD leaders claim that Samak and his cabinet intend to plunder the country, a charge which they brought against the former Premier Thaksin Shinawatra, now owner of Manchester City FC. The protesters are angry that Thaksin and his wife Pojaman were allowed to flee Thailand after she was jailed and he was charged with corruption.

As the government battles to restore its authority, arrest warrants for treason have been issued against the PAD leaders, who include media magnate Sondhi Limthongkul, former Bangkok governor Chamlong Srimuang, Pibhop Dhongchai, an academic, and labour leader Somsak Kosaisuk. However, police have so far been unable to serve the warrants.

After meeting King Bhumipol Adulyadej at his summer palace in Hua Hin, Samak insisted he would not back down. Bhumibol’s support is crucial. Although he is a constitutional monarch with no formal political role, he has repeatedly brought calm in times of turbulence during his 60 years on the throne.

‘I, the Prime Minister, have come to office in the righteous way and I won’t resign,’ Samak said. ‘I will not back down. I will rule this country and will lead it through all of the problems.’

He also defended himself against critics who say he should not have let protesters overrun Government House in Bangkok: ‘I have been very patient and have refrained from using force.’

But Samak’s position looks fragile. Army commander General Anupong Paochinda has rejected his request to declare a state of emergency, and the Chart Thai Party, a member of Samak’s six-party coalition, said it was ready to suggest the Prime Minister step down.

Last night thousands of protesters remained camped out at Government House, where leaders called for a million people to join their ranks and demand an end to Samak’s seven-month tenure. ‘The protest has already developed into a people’s revolution,’ said protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul. ‘I do believe that Samak is going to resign.

Thaksin returns to a hero’s welcome -The Times February 28 2008

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February 28, 2008

Thai ex-premier arrives home to hero’s welcome

Andrew Drummond and Richard Lloyd Parry, in Bangkok

thaksinFeb2808 2

Thaksin Shinawatra, the deposed former Thai Prime Minister, was greeted with a hero’s welcome in the capital Bangkok today as he returned home to face corruption allegations.

The Manchester City football club owner, who was ousted in a military coup in September 2006, was accorded the welcome of a liberator after his Thai airlines 747 touched down on a flight from Hong Kong.

After telling officials in the VIP area that he was worried about his security but that he had confidence in Thai justice, he walked out of the airport and fell to his knees to kiss the pavement.

Mr Thaksin’s return marks the latest step in a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for the former Thai Prime Minister.

Months ago, he appeared to have been consigned to the dustbin of history after being forced out of office in a military coup, stripped of much of his fortune and facing criminal charges that could land him in prison.thaksinFeb2808

But this morning, analysts believe his triumphant homecoming could mark the latest step in his remarkable return to power.

Thousands of supporters, including members of Thailand’s new Government, a smaller number of opponents and 10,000 police, were waiting for him at Suvarnabhumi airport, some carrying banners and life-size cardboard cutouts of his image.

After arriving, he was immediately taken to Bangkok Criminal court to answer a charge of abuse of power.

Once there, he was, as expected, bailed for £136,500 and told not to leave the country without the court’s permission. However, analysts believe that the court was unlikely to refuse such permission, and that the allegations against him may soon be dropped.

No sooner had Mr Thaksin left court than Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee announced that he would be appointed as economic advisor to the government.

The former Prime Minister, who has kept himself in the international public spotlight by buying Manchester City and appointing former England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson as manager, has been banned from politics for five years, along with 110 of his MPs in the now defunct Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thai) party.

However, Thailand’s current government, led by current Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej of the People’s Power Party, gained power largely by using the former Prime Minister’s popularity in its election campaign. He was accompanied home by PPP party officials.

It is likely now that moves will be made to lift the ban on Mr Thaksin’s political career even though he has repeatedly claimed he has retired from politics. He still has a massive power base in the north-east of Thailand where his policies are popular with farmers.

“I just want to go home to my family and thank them and everyone for their support,” he said.

Thaksin’s return, however, is likely to lead to further splits in national unity. The military coup came after months of street demonstrations by pro-democracy supporters, who objected to his clampdown on press freedoms, human rights abuses and his alleged corruption.

Memorable returns

— On return from exile last year, Benazir Bhutto, the former Pakistani Prime Minister, planned a two-day procession through Karachi. Hours into the journey, she narrowly escaped a suicide bomb that killed 100 supporters.

— In 1814 the French Emperor Napoleon lost to the allied armies and was exiled on the island of Elba, with a personal staff of 1,000. After 100 days, he escaped to the mainland and caused royalist forces to join him with the cry: “If there is any soldier among you who wishes to kill his Emperor, here I am”

— After 20 years in America, the dissident writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn returned to post-Soviet Russia in 1994, taking two months to cross the country by train, met by well-wishers at every stop

Sources: Times archives, One Hundred Days: Napoleon’s Road to Waterloo

Pictures: Reuters/Getty/EPA

Allies of deposed PM claim victory in Thai election - CBC December 23 07

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Allies of deposed PM claim victory in Thai election

Last Updated: Sunday, December 23, 2007 | 12:39 PM ET
CBC News

Allies of Thailand’s deposed prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, have won the first parliamentary election since a 2006 military coup, according to initial election results released Sunday.

But the People’s Power Party (PPP) appears to have fallen just short of winning a majority in the 480-seat house, according to the partial results from Saturday’s election.

The Thai military overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra in September 2006, accusing him of corruption and abuse of power. Among other things, Thaksin’s party was accused of violating election laws.

The PPP, which backs Thaksin, “has in fact declared victory already,” freelance journalist Andrew Drummond told CBC News from Thailand on Sunday.

The Election Commission said in a preliminary report that the PPP took about 230 seats, while its top rival, the Democrat Party, took fewer than 170.

Samak Sundaravej, the head of the PPP, said Thaksin had called from Hong Kong and offered his congratulations. Samak told reporters that the PPP would welcome other parties in a coalition government.

The PPP campaigned on policies Thaksin had advocated, and said it would grant amnesty to him and executives of the outlawed Thai Rak Thai Party.

Allies of Thailand’s deposed prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, have won the first parliamentary election since a 2006 military coup, according to initial election results released Sunday.

But the People’s Power Party (PPP) appears to have fallen just short of winning a majority in the 480-seat house, according to the partial results from Saturday’s election.

The Thai military overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra in September 2006, accusing him of corruption and abuse of power. Among other things, Thaksin’s party was accused of violating election laws.

The PPP, which backs Thaksin, “has in fact declared victory already,” * freelance journalist Andrew Drummond told CBC News from Thailand on Sunday.

The Election Commission said in a preliminary report that the PPP took about 230 seats, while its top rival, the Democrat Party, took fewer than 170.

Samak Sundaravej, the head of the PPP, said Thaksin had called from Hong Kong and offered his congratulations. Samak told reporters that the PPP would welcome other parties in a coalition government.

The PPP campaigned on policies Thaksin had advocated, and said it would grant amnesty to him and executives of the outlawed Thai Rak Thai Party.

“They didn’t do anything wrong,” Samak said.

The army cited corruption and interference with independent government bodies when it launched the coup that deposed Thaksin in September 2006.

Thaksin was visiting New York at the time and has since moved to Britain.

Military leaders said at the time of the coup that they wished to return to democracy. In the summer, a new constitution was approved in a referendum, and the parliamentary election followed.

The election — was the first since Thaksin was deposed — is “a victory for democracy,” Drummond said. “The country will have a strong government that’s supported by the people.”

Ruangroj Jomsueb, a spokesman for the country’s Election Commission, said the commission is investigating many reports of alleged vote-buying in rural areas.

About 5,000 candidates from 39 parties ran in the election

(* While the election was hailed as a triumph for democracy Andrew Drummond did also point out that the PPP was also hated in many quarters and many Thais feared that this was a return to old time politics and the corruption associated with it)

*CBC report